ANAHEIM, CA(December 3, 2018) – Coached by brilliant and esteemed High Performance Coach Rafael Arutyunyan, figure skaters from the USA, Czech Republic, France and Japan participated in each of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series for the 2018-2019 season. The series consists of six international senior invitational events (Skate America, Skate Canada, Helsinki, NHK Trophy, Rostelecom Cup and Internationaux de Franc) and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.

Competitors collect points in their Grand Prix events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters in each discipline qualify for the Final.

Led by coach Arutyunyan, American skaters Nathan Chen, Mariah Bell, and Eunsoo Lim as well as Czech Republic skater Michal Brezina, French skater Romain Posnart and Japanese skater Marin Honda all took part in Grand Prix events.

In June of 2016, Rafael Arutyunyan started his coaching residency at THE RINKS - Lakewood ICE. He is acknowledged around the world for his success in teaching jump technique and employs a systematic, theoretical analysis of the methods applied to the skill of jumping on ice. Rafael uses his skater’s height and distance to determine proper take-off velocity as it relates to timing, angle direction, and position. His methods have proven to be effective with his athletes winning several medals, competitions and titles during his tenure.

Rafael is set to join the coaching staff at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena as the Head Coach of the High Performance Team in the Singles discipline in Spring of 2019.